4 unités LC - Architecture Insights

Even before the completion of its construction, the ‘Unité’ in
Marseille was already highly controversial simply due to the nature
of its unconventional design. This fact, added to the extended
construction period and the growing cost of the building, evidently
heightened contention for the project, leading to an incredibly
passionate and inflammatory debate.
The Unité d’habitation in Marseilles became instantly infamous,
word of le monstre 20 was spread by the national media and people
flocked from all over the country to see it. Some praised it for its
order and logic, and the “new way of life” that it proposed –
“Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation …holds the greatest sum of
experiences: of construction, of plasticity, in the use of different
surfaces, the sunny aspect, the climatic control, and the
habitability. …an undeniable architectural success.
…But it is not simply a question of architecture. It is the
experience of a new way of life that is offered to mankind.” 21
Whilst others criticised it for being insalubrious and inhumane –
“Here you will find, brought together, all of the greatest causes of
insalubrity, …the directors of the departments of Health and the
advisors of the departments of hygiene are fighting, with out
cease, to prohibit the habitation of the building.” 22
The polemical nature of the building lay, not only in its aesthetics,
but also in the ethics of the principles upon which it was built. Le
Corbusier’s had already been highly criticised for his socialistic
ideals, expressed through his theories of functionalism and
standardisation 23 (the very theories that formed the basis of the
‘Unité’ design). And even fellow architects that credited Le
Corbusier for his innovation and ideas, began to question his
103 104
45-46. Middle-class residents
that were quick to move in to
the ‘Unité d’habitation’ of
Marseille, 1959.
judgement in this case: “Il est des choses qui ne se font pas. Tout
n’est pas possible […]” (‘Some things are just not done. Not
everything is possible […]’), said R. Rouzeau in La Journée du
bâtiment (January 25-26, 1948), with regards to the construction of
the ‘Unité’ in Marseille. 24
On paper, Le Corbusier’s ideas were controversial enough, so when
these ideas achieved a physical reality, the reaction of many was no
less than outrage. But for each of the passionate objectors, there
were an equal amount of admirers. 25 Le Corbusier had managed to
hold a consistent following over the years, and those drawn by the
lifestyle and design of the building, many of whom were architects
and designers, were quick to move in.